Understanding Social Determinants of Health
What are social determinants of health?Ìý
Social determinants of health (SDOH) refer toÌýallÌýofÌýthe environmental factors that affect wellness. Where children live, attendÌýdaycare orÌýschool, play with their peers,ÌýandÌýparticipate in extracurricular activities all affect their overall wellness.Ìý
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Why do pediatric SDOH matter?
Many SDOH factors affect ÌýFor example, research shows that about 1 in 10 people in the United States lacks health insurance. Without that coverage, children are less likely to go to primary care appointments, receive dental care or get needed medications.Ìý
Other SDOH that can affect children’s health or their ability to receive health services may include:Ìý
- Challenging education environmentÌý
- Difficulty accessing nutritious foodÌý
- Economic instabilityÌý
- Experiencing discrimination, racism or violenceÌý
- Literacy and language skill limitations
- Polluted water or airÌý
- Poor housing or homelessness
Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences
Research has alsoÌýshownÌýthat Ìý(ACE) can affect children’s health and their long-term well-being. ACEs include all potentially traumatic events that occur during childhood. For example, children may:Ìý
Endure abuse, neglect or violenceÌýÌý
Have a caregiver with substance use or mental health problemsÌý
Witness violence in their home or in their communityÌýÌý
Ìý can significantly improve children’s well-being. With such interventions, the show that we could potentially prevent:
Up toÌý1.9 million heart disease diagnoses
As many as 21 million depression diagnoses
Data on Health Disparities
At Nemours Children’s Health, we understand that learning about families’Ìýis crucial for improving our systems and policies.ÌýWe conduct research to better understand real-life needsÌý— not justÌýamong familiesÌýwho come to our clinics but also across our communitiesÌýand across the nation.
In 2019, we partnered with The Harris Poll to conduct a national survey of more than 1,000 parents of children under 18.ÌýWe found key statistics such as:Ìý
32% said they’ve missed at least one of their child’s medical appointments in the last year because they were unable to get to it or pay for it.
30% said they don’t have time to worry about their child’s health unless it’s a medical emergency.Ìý
23% worried they’d run out of food before getting money to buy more.Ìý
Medical care accounts for only about 15% of a family’s overall well-being. We want to redefine health and health care so that we can better meet the needs of children and their families. Find out more about our survey andÌýredefining health for the well-being of children.Ìý
Leadership in Children’s Health
Our leaders at Nemours are thought leaders in transforming children’s health care. Our president and CEO,ÌýDr. Larry Moss, advances the national dialogue by engaging with other children’s health care leaders and the business community.Ìý
Racism and Health Disparities
Racism, discrimination and violence have always been social determinants of health that can profoundly impact children. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the racial health disparities that always existed in the United StatesÌýonlyÌýwidened.Ìý
Addressing these disparities requires a wider view — we can accomplish more by looking at what happens outside our hospitals. Read more about how children’s hospitals hold the keys to creating anÌýAmerica Without Limits.
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Children’s SDOH and Informed Health CareÌý
Understanding the SDOH that affect our communitiesÌýinforms how we deliver health care.ÌýWe areÌýtaking actionÌýto improve population health by:ÌýÌý
Advocating for federalÌýand stateÌýpolicies that improve the health of all childrenÌý
Developing new screening tools that assess families for nonmedical health factorsÌýÌý
EstablishingÌýprograms thatÌýassess for and educate families on adverse childhood experiences
Leading and learning with communities across the country to design population health networks that improve health and wellbeing outcomes for all residentsÌý
Linking families with existing community resourcesÌý
Partnering with community-based organizations to prevent child illness, improve health and lower health care costsÌýÌý